Electronic organ having delayed fill in

ABSTRACT

An electronic organ in which the depressing of both an accompaniment key and a solo key will bring about the sounding of fill notes, preferably within an octave below the solo note pertaining to the depressed solo key with the fill notes sounding at the expiration of a predetermined time delay following the instant that the solo and accompaniment key are both in depressed position.

United States Patent [191 Robinson et al.

ELECTRONIC ORGAN HAVING DELAYED FILL IN Inventors: John W. Robinson;Stephen L.

Howell, both of Jasper, Ind.

Assignee: Kimball International, Inc., Jasper,

Ind.

Filed: Dec. 14, 1973 Appl. No.: 424,731

US. Cl 84/l.17, 84/1.24, 84/DIG. 22 Int. Cl. G10h 1/00, Gl0h 5/00 Fieldof Search 84/101, 1.03, 1.17, 1.24,

84/DIG. 12, DIG. 22

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1967 Brand et al.

1/l97l Hadden..... 3/1971 Tennes eta.

[ 5] Mar. 18, 1975 3,665,088 5/1972 Brand et al. 84/101 3,708,604 l/1973Hebeisen et al. 84/103 3,711,618 l/l973 Freeman 84/103 3,725,560 4/1973Robinson et al 84/101 3,745,225 7/1973 Hall 84/103 PrimaryExaminer-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant ExaminerStanley J. WitkowskiAttorney, Agent, or FirmMelvin A. Crosby [57] ABSTRACT An electronicorgan in which the depressing of both an accompaniment key and a solokey will bring about the sounding of fill notes, preferably within anoctave below the solo note pertaining to the depressed solo key with thetill notes sounding at the expiration of a predetermined time delayfollowing the instant that the solo and accompaniment key are both indepressed position.

26 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAR I 81975 SHEET 2 FIG. 3

ELECTRONIC ORGAN HAVING DELAYED FILL IN RELATED APPLICATION regularplaying to the playing of chords in the accom- Richard Hebeisen andPatrick Doane; Ser. No.

349,987; filed: Apr. II, 1973; Title: CHORD PLAY- ING ORGAN INCLUDING ACIRCUIT ARRANGE- MENT FOR ADDING FILL-IN NOTES TO THE SOLO PART assignedto the same assignee as the present application, and now U.S. Pat. No.3,823,246.

The invention relates to electronic organs, and is particularlyconcerned with an arrangement for the automatic playing of fill noteswhen the organ is played.

The supplying of fill notes to a composition played on a keyboard typeinstrument is known and is accomplished by skilled players automaticallyduring the playing of the instrument. Such fill notes are not usuallyscored and are selected in accordance with the harmonic requirements ofthe accompaniment and solo notes.

In an earlier application filed by the present assignee in the name ofHebeisen, et al., Ser. No. 349,987, filed Apr. I1, 1973, and now U.S.Pat. No. 3,823,246, an arrangement is illustrated for supplying fillnotes in the solo of an electronic organ in conformity with apredetermined chord played in the accompaniment manual and also inconformity with the particular solo key which is depressed.

The fill notes are preferably supplied in the octave immediately belowthe depressed solo key and are, of necessity, harmonically related tothe chord being played in the accompaniment manual and to the note beingplayed in the solo manual. In the organ illustrated in theaforementioned application, as well as in the present application, aconventional organ is modified so that predetermined single ones of thekeys of the accompanimentmanual can be selectively switched over forplaying chords.

When the organ is thus switched over, the keys of the accompanimentmanual are disabled for playing single notes and, instead, the keys ofthe selected group of keys of the accompaniment manual each causes arespective chord to sound. It is when the organ is thus switched overthat it is desired to supply fill notes in the solo manual although itwill be understood that the supplying of fill notes could be carried outduring conventional organ playing also if so desired.

A particular feature of the present invention is to be found in theprovision of an arrangement for delaying the-sounding of the fill notesafter both a chord playing accompaniment key and a solo key aredepressed. On advantage of effecting the delay is that an improved soundis obtained and another advantage is that when playing solo notes insuccession rapidly as when playing glissando or playing a rapid arpeggiothe fill notes will not be actuated and thereby a better and more clearrendition of the particular figure being executed is obtained. Thiswould also be the case with ornaments that are ordinarily played quiterapidly as in the case of grace notes or turns or the like.

With the foregoing in mind, the primary objective of the presentinvention is the provision of an electronic organ having a circuitarrangement for automatically filling notes into the solo part beingplayed while introducing a predetermined time delay before the fillnotes sound.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of anelectronic organ that can be switched from paniment manual when singlenotes thereof are depressed and wherein fill notes are provided forfilling in the solo part and which sound at the end of a predeterminedtime delay after both of a chord playing accompaniment key and a key ofthe solo manual are depressed. I

A further object is the provision of an arrangement for automaticallyfilling in notes in the solo manual of an organ which do not in any wayinterfere with the execution of quickly played ornaments or in theexecution of glissando parts or in the playing of rapid arpeggios.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anarrangement of the nature referred to for filling in notes in the solomanual a predetermined time after both a chord playing key in theaccompaniment manual and a key in the solo manual are depressed andwherein the particular time delay before the fill notes sound isadjustable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, anelectronic organ may have a single keyboard or it may be provided withat least one upper or solo manual or keyboard and a lower oraccompaniment manual or keyboard. In the normal course of events, eachkey of each keyboard will key a single tone, sometimes together with anoctave thereof.

In a modification of such an organ, special circuitry and switching isprovided in respect of the accompaniment keyboard such that the functionof each key playing an independent tone can be disabled and, instead, acertain group of the keys of the lower manual are so connected that eachplays a respective chord by keying a related group of tones making upthe chord.

In still another known modification of an electronic 'organ, and whichis shown in detail in the copending application referred to above, theorgan is provided with further circuitry for causing fill notes to soundin the solo part of a piece being played onthe organ. The fill notesconsist of one or two notes selected from the octave beneath therespective solo note played and are harmonically related to' the solonote.

The keying of the extra fill notes is accomplished by the depressing ofa chord playing accompaniment key and a solo key and the fill notes areharmonically related not only to the solo note played but also to thechord played by the respective chord playing key. In arranging thecircuitry which causes the fill notes to sound, logic gates are employedso that signals from the depressed keys can be routed to keyers for thefill notes to be sounded.

It is known to cause the fill notes to sound at the instant that a solomanual key and an accompaniment manual key are both in depressedcondition, but the present invention provides for a predetermined timedelay from the aforementioned instant before the fill notes sound. Thedelaying of the sounding of the fill notes is of merit because the solopart will sound somewhat like a broken or rolled chord while,furthermore, the aforementioned time delay is of such duration that fillnotes do not sound when solo notes are played in rapid succession, as isoften the case.

The foregoing objects as well as still other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become more clearly apparent upon referenceto the following circuit contemplated for use with the arrangement ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing more in detail the manner in whichthe fill notes are keyed according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings somewhatmore in detail, in FIG. 1, is a schematic perspective representation ofan electronic organ having an upper or solo keyboard or manual 12 and alower or accompaniment keyboard or manual 14. Such an organ alsocomprises a pedal clavier or keyboard 16 for operation by the foot.

The organ contains voice formant circuits and those pertaining to thepedal clavier are indicated at 18 and those pertaining to theaccompaniment manual are indicated at 20 while those pertaining to thesolo manual are indicated at 22. Such voice formant circuits are underthe control of tab switches. Coupling switches and the like, which mayalso be under the control of tabs, are provided which are notillustrated in the schematic view of FIG. 1.

In the normal operation of the organ, each of the keys ofthe two manualskey single tones but upon actuation of a selector switch 26, the keys ofthe lower manual are disabled for playing single tones and, instead, agroup thereof indicated by the bracket at 28 are enabled for playingchords, which is to say, each individual one of the keys within therange of the bracket 28, and which may consist of thirteen or more keys,is adapted for causing an accompaniment chord to sound when therespective key is depressed.

The organ is also arranged so thatfill notes will be supplied in theupper manual within the octave below the depressed key when both anaccompaniment key and a solo key are depressed, and this function isselected by actuation of switch 29.

Still further, the accompaniment part can be caused to soundrhythmically, and this can be selected by actuation of switch 30. Thepedal tones can also be caused to sound rhythmically and according toany desired rhythm pattern when the switch 30 is actuated if so desired.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a portion only of the organ circuitry isillustrated in order to demonstrate the nature of the present invention.In FIG. 2, a single one of the groups of chord playing accompanimentkeys in the range of bracket 28 is indicated at 32 while three of thekeys from the solo manual are indicated at 34, 36 and 38. The lastmentioned keys illustrated are not adjacent keys but keys 36 and 38 aredisposed within the octave below key 34.

In conventional operation, when key 32 is depressed, it closes a switch40 and, if switch 26 is at that time in its upper position, a keyer 42is activated which will key a single tone frequency which will besupplied to voice formant circuit means '44 pertaining to theaccompaniment manual and then will be supplied to the amplifier andspeaker means 46.

If, however, switch 26 is in its lower position. then the depressing ofkey 32 will close a switch 48 which will thenbe effective for actuatingkeyer 50 which keys a plurality of different frequencies making up achord and which are supplied through a gate 52 to the voice formantmeans at'44 'and then to the amplifier andspeaker 46.

Gate 52 is held in conductive position when switch 30 is in an upperposition, and when switch 30 is in a lower position, gate 52 is underthecontrol of a source of patterned rhythm pulses 54.

Each accompaniment key 32, when depressed, closes a respective switch56, one side of which goes to ground and another side of which isconnected through a diode 58 and a resistor 60 to a wire 62 that isconnected to a source of voltage via a resistor 64. The change inpotential on wire 62 when a switch 56 is closed can be availed of viathe circuit component 66 to supply a starting pulse via wire 68 to thesource of pattern rhythm pulses 54. The source of pattern rhythm pulsescan run continuously or it canbe started at the beginning of eachmeasure as by component 66.

Each of the solo manual keys 34, 36, 38 closes a respective switch 70,72, 74 when closed and each switch is connected via a respective diodeD1, D2, D3 with the control terminal of a respective keyer 76, 78, 80.Each keyer keys a single solo note and these notes are supplied throughthe voice formant means 82 to the aforementioned amplifier and speakermeans. I

The fill notes referred to areobtained by supplying actuating signals tothe keyers of solo notes in the octave immediately below the actuatedone of the solo notes together with the depressing of achord playingaccompaniment key.

The circuitry for accomplishing this consists of an OR gate for eachchord playing accompaniment key. The circuit of FIG. 2 will illustratesonly a single accompaniment key has only a single OR gate 90 therein.One input of OR gate 90 is connected to one side of a switch 92 which isclosed when key 32 is depressed.

The other input of OR gate 90 is connected to the output of an OR gate94 which is common to all of the chord playing accompaniment keys andwhich, in effect, forms and ON-OFF switch for controlling the supply offill notes. One input of OR gate 94 is connected to the collector oftransistor Q1, the emitter of which is grounded. A source of voltage isconnected through a resistor 96 wiith the collector of the transistor sothat when the transistor is conductive, an enabling signal is suppliedto the pertaining terminal of gate 94.

Transistor O1 is normally conductive because the base is connected viaresistor 98 with a souce of biasing voltage which is effective forholding the transistor at saturation while control switch 29 is in itsupper or ON position. Switch 29 is connected to a source of voltage andwhen moved to its down or OFF position, will cause transistor 01 to gonon-conductive thereby disabling gate 94 which will, in turn, disablegate 90.

Transistor Q1 can also be driven to non-conduction via a resistor 100and diode 102 which is connected to one side of a component 104 whichhas the other side connected to wire 62. Component 104 is provided forthe purpose of detecting when more than one chord playing key of theaccompaniment manual is depressed and is operable for driving transistorO1 to nonconduction when more than one of the accompaniment keys aredepressed at one time. This avoids the sounding of dissonance in case ofa player mistake.

Assuming that transistor O1 is in conductive state then, if OR gate 94is also supplied with a zero signal to the other input thereof, theoutput will go to zero thereby supplying an enabling signal to one inputof OR gate 90. If now key 32 is depressed, switch 92 will close and anenabling signal will be supplied to the other input of OR gate 90whereby the output of the gate will go to zero and supply an enablingsignal to one input of each of the OR gates 106 and 108.

The other input of OR gate 106 is connected via a diode D4 with switch70 of solo key 34 while the other input of OR gate 108 is connected viaa diode D5 with switch 72 of solo key 36.

The output of OR gate 106 is connected via a diode D6 with the controlterminal of keyer 78 while the output of OR gate 108 is connected via adiode D7 with the control terminal of keyer 80. A further diode D8 maybe employed to connect the output of OR gate 106 with another solo keyerand another diode D9 of OR gate 108 performs a similar function,

At this point, it will be appreciated that the system operates on zeroor negative signalling so that any time a plus signal, say, 5 volts, issupplied to either or both terminals of an OR gate, the output will goto logic 1 and with the output going to logic 0 only when there is alogic 0 supplied to both input terminals.

Similarly, each keyer is nonconductive in respect of tone signalssupplied to one input terminal thereof when the other input terminal,which may be referred to as a control terminal is supplied with a logic1, and go to conduction when the control terminal is supplied with alogic 0, said conduction referring to the passage of tone signals.

' Returning now to the OR gate 94, one terminal thereof is normally heldat logic 0 by way of a resistor 110 but is caused to go to logic 1 fora'predetermined timed period following the actuation of either a solokey or a chord playing accompaniment key. This circuit, which will bedescribed more in detail hereinafter, introduces a predetermined timedelay which is interposed between the instant that both a solo key andaccompaniment key are depressed and the instant that the till note, ornotes, will sound.

The delay component, indicated at 112 (see FIG. 4 for specifics thereof)has an output terminal connected to one side of OR gate 94 and includesa resistor 114 which can be adjusted to adjust the particular amount oftime delay. The input terminals to delay component 112, and whichactuate the component to initiate the time delay period, comprise afirst wire 1 16 connected to one end of a resistor 118 which isinterposed between the solo key switches and ground.

Another input to component 112 is by way of wire 120 which leads to thecomponent 66 which, as mentioned, is sensitive to the depressing of anaccompaniment key for initiating operation of the source of patternedrhythm pulses. Component 66, upon depressing of an accompaniment key,supplies a pulse to wire 120.

A third wire 122 is provided leading from an input of component 112 tocomponent 104 and is responsive to releasing of component 104 toinitiate a time delay. The releasing of component 104 occurs when thecondition of more than one chord playing. accompaniment key beingdepressed is corrected.

Considering the circuit of FIG. 2, as described up to the present time,when key 32 is depressed and key 34 is also depressed, gate 90 will beenabled at the end of a predetermined time delay following thedepressing of the last depressed one of keys 32, 34. When gate 90 isenabled, gate 106 is also enabled so that an enabling signal will besupplied via diode D6 to keyer 78 so that the note pertaining to keyer78 will sound at the end of a predetermined time delay after the notepertaining to keyer 76 sounds.

As mentioned, diode D8 will also actuate a further keyer. For example,if key 32 plays the chord of A minor and key 34 pertains to a C note,then keyer 78 will be an A and the keyer pertaining to diode D8 will bean E.

If now, instead of key 34, key 36 were depressed at the same time asaccompaniment key 32, then gate 108 would be enabled and via diode D7would actuate keyer 80 so that the note pertaining thereto would soundafter the aforementioned time delay. A further note would also soundwhen gate 108 was enabled by a signal transmitted through diode D9.

FIG. 3 illustrates graphically the effect of the circuit arrangementaccording to the present invention. In FIG. 3, line 130 shows thevoltage which is under the control of switch 92 operated by theaccompaniment key. It will be seen that the accompaniment key isdepressed at the vertical dashed line identified 132.

If it is assumed that a solo key is depressed at dashed line 134, thendashed line 132 represents the instant at which both an accompanimentkey and a solo key are in depressed condition. The line 136 indicatesthe note which is keyed by the solo key, and it will be seen that thisnote is modified by the superposition thereon of the fill note, ornotes, as indicated by the graph 138 at the time which is displaced fromline 132 by a time interval t as marked on FIG. 3. Time interval I maybe varied from a few milliseconds upwardly. In FIG. 3, t is about 20milliseconds.

To explain more in detail, the circuit arrangement pertaining to anorgan, FIG. 5 shows the gates which are under the control of a singleone of the OR gates 90 which might pertain, for example, to theaccompaniment key that keys the C major chord or the C7 chord. When thegate 90 pertaining to the chord referred to is enabled, oneinputterminal of each of the OR gates, generally indicated at 91 in FIG. 5,receives an enabling signal.

The other input terminal of each of the aforementioned OR gates isconnected to at least two solo key switches, with the connectionsidentified by note designations in FIG. 5. There may be, for example, atwo octave range of solo keys and the terminals pertaining thereto areidentified by the letter designations pertaining to the half steps inthe chromatic scale commencing with A1 and going up to A3 with the A3note being two octaves above the A1 note.

The output side of each of the gates in FIG. 5 is also shown connectedto wires leading through isolating diodes to 'certain keyers.Forexample, the topmost gate is connected to key notes CO and E0 whichare the C and E notes in the octave below the two notes connected to thelower terminal of the OR gate.

Similarly, progressing downwardly in FIG. 5, successive ones of the ORgates are each connected for keying a pair of fill notes, and it will benoted that the fill notes in every case are in the octave'immediatelybelow the note pertaining to the lower input terminal of. the respectivegate. FIG. will show that the system according to the present inventioncould be extended substantially without limit.

Turning now'to the particular delay circuit which is shown in the boxat112 in FIG. 1, this will be seen in FIG. 4 with the aforementionedwires 116, 120 and 122 connected thereto. Wire 116 operates throughserially connected operational amplifiers Q2 and Q3 to supply a pulsevia a capacitor C1 to the base of a transistor Q4.

Transistor O4 is normally conductive and when supplied with pulse goesto nonconduction.

Thecollector of transistor 04 is connected with the base'of atransistorQS which is normally nonconductive but which goes toconduction when transistor Q4 goes to nonconduction. Transistor 05, whenconductive, establishes a connection to ground from one side of a tenmicrofarad capacitor identified at C2.

When transistor OS is nonconductive, capacitor C2 charges up from aminus 12 volt source via resistor 114 and another resistor 140 connectedin series therewith. When the capacitor C2 discharges through transistorQ5, it operates through a non-loading operational amplifier Q6 and acomparator Q7 to supply an impulse to the base of the transistor Q8. Theduration of the period for which the impulse is supplied to the base ofO8 is adjustable by adjustment or resistor 114 while a furthr resistor142 is provided for changing the output bias of the comparator Q7.

An adjustable resistor 144 is provided between Q6 and Q7 and adjusts theswitch point. The comparator O7 is so constructed and arranged that itshifts over at a predetermined negative voltage on capacitor C2 and ischaracterized by extremely sharp leading side on the output so that thetime at which transistor Q8 goes conduct-ive can be determined quiteaccurately.

Transistor O5 is connected in parallel with another transistor Q9 whichis normally nonconductive but which will go to conduction when either oftransistors Q10 and Q11 are driven to nonconduction by pulses suppliedthereto from the respective wires 120, 122 which are connected throughcapacitors with the bases of said transistors.

The emitter of transistor 08 is connected to th lower input terminal ofgate 94 so that when transistor 08 goes conductive, in response to anoutput signal from comparator Q7, the said terminal of gate 94 will besupplied with a disabling signal and will only be supplied with anenabling signal when transistor Q8 again goes nonconductive and whichwill occur at the end of the time delay period, as determined, inparticular, by adjustment of resistor 114.

It will be understood that all of the notes keyed are derived from atone generator means indicated at 150 in FIG. 2 with the tone generatormeans supplying as many frequencies as is necessary to span the range ofnotes covered by the solo and accompaniment manuals and by the pedalkeyboard. The frequencies supplied by the tone generator means, andwhich differ from each other in accordance with the chromatic scale, arepreferably square waves.

The keyers, which are normally nonconductive, will, when an enablingsignal is supplied to the control terminals thereof, pass the squarewaves through the voice formant means to the electroacoustic transducermeans wherein the waves which have been modified in the voice formantmeans are converted into sound.

The selector switches at 26'and 29 can be ganged together so fill noteswill only sound when the organ is adjusted into chord playing mode.

Other time delay arrangements are, of course, possible. The importantfeature is that the time delay becomes effective upon the depressing ofboth a solo manual key and an accompaniment manual key, especially achord playing accompaniment manual key.'

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the delay circuit istriggered toeffect discharging of timing capacitor C2whenever a key ofthe solo manual is depressed or whenever a chord playing accompanimentkey is depressed.

The delay circuit, however, becomes effective for its intended purposeonly when both of the aforementioned keys are depressed because at thatinstant the circuitry pertaining to the fill notes becomes operativelyassociated with the remainder of the organ circu- 1ty. I

As to the duration of the delay time t, it has been mentioned that thisis variable and it is, indeed, preferably variable in order to take intoaccount different tempos and different players. A delay time of 20milliseconds is, for example, readily apparent in the rendition of mostcompositions.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. I l

What is claimed is: I

1. That method of operating an electronic organ in which at least onefill note sounds in the treble portion of a composition when a key ofeach of the solo and accompaniment keyboards of the organ are jointlydepressed, said fill note comprising a note within an octave range belowthe note which corresponds to the depressed solo key and harmonicallyrelated to the notes corresponding to the depressed solo andaccompaniment keys, said method comprising delaying the sounding of thesaid fill note for a predetermined and audibly discernable time intervalafter the sounding of the notes corresponding to the depressed keys.

2. That method according to claim 1 in which said time interval isgreater than the time interval between the depressing of keys of thesolo keyboard when the keys are actuated in rapid succession whereby thefill notes will not sound when playing rapid arpeggios and glissando andlike musical figures involving the actuation of keys in rapidsuccession.

3. That method of operating an organ having solo and accompanimentkeyboards with each key of the solo keyboard when depressed causingsubstantially instantaneous sounding of a respective note whiledepression of a key of a predetermined group of the keys of theaccompaniment keyboard causes substantially instantaneous sounding ofthe notes of a respective chord, said method enhancing the sound of theorgan while simplifying the playing thereof, said method comprising;causing the sounding of at least one fill note Within the range of anoctave below the note corresponding to the key depressed in the solokeyboard when a key of each of said solo keyboard and one of said groupof keys of said accompaniment manual are in depressed position at thesame time, said fill note being harmonically related to the notecorresponding to the depressed solo key and to the chord correspondingto the depressed accompaniment key, and delaying the sounding of said cI 9 fill note for an audibly discernable period of time following thelast depressed one of said solo and accompaniment keys.

.a plurality of terminals at respective tone signal frequencies, anelectroacoustic transducer, and solo and accompaniment manuals eachhaving keys; a plurality of normally nonconductive first keyersconnecting respective terminals of said generator to said transducer andeach going to conduction in response to the depressing of a respectivekey of said solo manual, gate means having outputs connected to at leastsome of said first keyers and causing the said first keyers to go toconduction when enabling signals are supplied to the inputs of the gatemeans, each gate means having one input which receives an enablingsignal in response to the depression of a respective key of saidaccompaniment manual and a second input which receives an enablingsignal in response to the depression of a respective key of said solomanual other than the key which normally causes the respective firstkeyer to go to conduction whereby each gate means is enabled in responseto the joint depression of a key of each manual, and time delay meansoperatively connected to said gate means and operable to delay theresponse to said first keyers to the joint depression of a solo key andan accompaniment'key for a predetermined and audibly discernable timeperiod after the last depressed one of' the keys which cause the supplyof enabling signals to the inputs of the respective gate means.

6. An electronic organ according to claim in which each said gate meanscomprises a group of gates each having one input connected to receive anenabling signal from a respective key of at least a predetermined groupof keys of the accompaniment manual and another input connected toreceive an enabling signal from a respective key of said solo manual.

7. An electronic organ according to claim 6 which includes a controlgate for each group of gates, each control gate having an outputconnected to the said one input of each gate of the respective saidgroup of gates and an input connected to receive an enabling signal inresponse to the depression of the respective said accompaniment manualkey, and selector switch means having one position wherein an enablingsignal is supplied to the other input of all of said control gates and asecond position in which the enabling signal to the other input of saidcontrol gates is interrupted.

8. 'An electronic organ according to claim 5 which includes a pluralityof second keyers connecting respective terminals of said generator tosaid transducer and each going to conduction in response to thedepression of a respective key of said accompaniment manual, a pluralityof third keyers each connecting a respective group of terminals of saidgenerator to said transducer and each going to conduction in response tothe depression of a respective key of a predetermined group of the keysof said accompaniment manual, the tone signals controlled by each ofsaid third keyers being related as chords, said one input of said gatemeans receiving an enabling signal in response to the depression of akey of said predetermined group of keys of said accompaniment manual,and selector switch means having one position in which said secondkeyers go conductive in response to the depressing of the respectivekeys of said accompaniment manual and a second position in which saidthird keyer means go to conduction in response to the depressing ofrespective keys of said predetermined group of keys.

9. An electronic organ according to claim 8 in which each said firstkeyer and each said second keyer and each said third keyer means has-acontrol terminal, a first switch means operated by each key of the solomanual and each connected to the control terminal of a respective saidfirst keyer, a second switch means operated by each key of theaccompaniment manual and each connected to the control terminal of arespective said second keyer, each of said second switch means operatedby the keys of said predetermined group of I keys of the accompanimentmanual also being connected to the" control terminal of a respectivesaid third keyer, selector switch means having a first position in whichsaid second switch means are effective for controlling said secondkeyers and a second piston in which the said second switch meansoperated by said group of keys are effective for controlling said thirdkeyers, and means connected to said gate means and selectively operablefor making said gate means responsive to the depressison of keys of saidaccompaniment manual only when said second switch means is in saidsecond position thereof.

10. An electronic organ according to claim 9 in which said gate meanscomprises a group of gates for each key of said predetermined group ofkeys, a control gate for each said group of gates having an outputconnected to the said one inputs of the gate of the respective group ofgates and one input connected to the respective said second switchmeans, and selector switch means connected to the other input of all ofsaid control gates and selectively operable for supplying an enablingsignal to said other inputs of said control gates simultaneously.

11. An electronic organ according to claim 10 in which each said controlgate has one input connected to the respective second switch means toreceive an enabling signal therefrom when the respective key isdepressed, said selector switch means comprising a single switchconnected to second inputs of all of said control gates and having oneposition wherein disabling signals are supplied to all of said secondinputs of said control gates and a second position in which enablingsignals are supplied to all of said second inputs of said control gates.

12. An electronic organ according to claim 5 in which the first keyersto which the outputs of respective ones of said gate means are connectedare in the octave next below the note corresponding to the said solomanual key which is jointly effective for enabling the respective gatemeans. I

13. An electronic organ according to claim 5 which includes meansoperable in response to the depressing of more than one of saidaccompaniment manual keys input to which it is connected and becomeseffective for an adjustable period of time following the actuationofakey ofeither of said 5010 and accompaniment manuals for supplying adisabling signal to the respective gate means input.

16. An electronic organ accoding to claim 7 in which said selector meansincludes a further gate connected in controlling relation to all of saidcontrol gates, said time delay means being connected to an input of saidfurther gate. Q

l7. An electronic organ according to claim 7 in which said selectormeans includes a further gate having an outputconnected to an input ofeach of said control gates, a selector switch connected to one input ofsaid further gate for selectively supplying an enabling signal thereto,said time delay means being connected to the other input of said furthergate.

18. An electronic organ according to claim 17 in which said other inputof said further gate is normally supplied with an enabling signal, saidtime delay means when actuated'by the depressing of 'said keys makingsaid enabling signal ineffective for a predetermined period of timethereby disabling said further gate and said control gates for the saidperiod of time.

19,. An electronic organ according to claim in which said predeterminedperiod of time is longer than the interval between successive noteswhenthe keys are depressed in rapid succession.

20. An electronic organ according to claim 5 in which each said gatemeans is a two input gate.

21. An electronic organ according to claim 7 in which each control gateis a two input gate. 22. An electronic organ according to claim 9 inwhich each said first switch is connected to an input of at least one ofthe said gates corresponding to each of said chord playing keys, theoutput of each such gate being connected to at least two of said firstkeyers in the octave which includes the first keyer connected to thesaid first switch whereby for every chord played at least two fill-innotes are played after said time delay period for each key of the solokeyboard which is depressed while a chord playing key is depressed.

23. An electronic organ according to claim 22 in which thenotepertaining to said first switch is at the top ofthe octave and saidfill-in notes are at lower pitches than the note pertaining to saidfirst switch.

24. In an electronic organ having a tone generator with a plurality ofoutput terminals for supplying an electroacoustic transducer, firstnormally conductive keyer means connecting said terminals to saidtransducer, said organ comprising playing keys in the form of solo,accompaniment and pedal keyboards, each key of said keyboards whendepressed normally causing a respective first keyer means connected to arespective terminal of said tone generator to go conductive, secondnormally nonconductive keyer means connecting groups of said terminalsto said electroacoustic transducer, selector switch means having aposition in which the keys of said accompaniment keyboard are disabledfor causing the pertaining first keyer means to go to conduction whileenabling predetermined ones thereof forming chord playing keys forcausing respective said second keyer means to go to conduction, eachsaid chord playing key when effective for causing a said second keyermeans to go to conduction and each key of said solo keyboard jointlycausing a first keyer means spective key of said solo keyboard andmusically related to the chord corresponding to the. respective chordplaying key to goto conduction when the said keys are depressed, andtime delay means connected to' said jointly controlledfirst keyer meansand operable for delaying the response of said jointly controlled firstkeyer means to a condition of joint actuation of a key of said solokeyboard and a said chord playing key of said accompaniment keyboard,said time delay means having a control terminal connected to receive asignal from the last actuated one of said jointly actuated keys forinitiating said timedelay, said time delay being audibly discernable. v

25. In an electronic organ having a tone generator with a pluralityofterminals at respective tone signal frequencies, an electroacoustictransducer, first keyers connected between individual terminals ofv saidtone generator and said electroacoustic transducer and actuatable forkeying solo notes, second keyers connected between individual terminalsof said tone generator and said electroascoustic transducer andindividually actuatable for keying accompaniment notes, and third keyersconnected between groups of terminals of said tone generator means andsaid electroacoustic means and actuatable for "keying accompanimentchords, solo playing keys each operable to actuate a respective firstkeyer, accompaniment playing keys each operable to actuate a respectivesecond keyer, predetermined ones of said accompaniment playing keysforming chord playing keys and each operable to actuate a respectivethird keyer, a selector switch having a first position wherein saidaccompaniment manual keys are effective for actuating said second keyersand a second position wherein said chord playing keys are effective foractuating said third keyers, means operable in response to the jointactuation of a chord playing key and a solo playing key when saidselector switch is in said second position for actuating at least two ofsaid first keyers other than the one pertaining to the actuated soloplaying key said two of said first keyers pertaining to tones musicallyrelated to the tone pertaining to the actuated solo playing key and tothe chord pertaining to the actuated chord playing key, and time delaymeans connected to said first keyers and operable in response to theactuation of either of a solo key or a chord playing accompaniment keyfor delaying the response of said-two of said first keyers to acondition of joint actuation of a said solo key and a said chord playingaccompaniment key. I

26. An electronic organ according to claim 25 in which the tonespertaining to said two of said first keyers are within an octave rangeof the tone pertaining to the actuated solo playing key.

PATENT NO.

DATED UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CETEIQATE l CORECTEN3,871,262 March 18th, 1975 John W. Robinson and Stephen'L. Howell It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the specification:

Column 1, line Column 3, line Column 4, line Column 7, line Column 7,line Column 7, line Column 7, line In the Claims:

Claim 5, column 9, line 29, delete "response to" 51, delete"0n" andreplace by One 59, delete "grou s" and replace by group 41, delete "willand replace by which l4; delete "pulse" and replace by a pulse 29,delete "or" and replace by of 30, delete "furthr" and replace byfurther-- 36, delete "extremely" and replace by an extremely and replaceby response of Claim 9, column 10, line 21, delete "piston" and replaceb Claim 9 position column 10, line 26, delete "depressison" and replaceby de ression Claim 24, column 11, line 49, delete 'conductive" andreplace y nonconductive Claim 25, column 12, line 47 after "key" insert'[SEAL] a comma A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer (I. MARSHALL DANN Commissioneruf'PaIenIs and Trademarks UNTTED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICECTFlCATE @F CURRECTIUN PATENT NO. 3 871 262 DATED March 18th, 1975 rNVENTOR( John w. Robinson and Stephen *L. Howell It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the specification:

Column 1, line 51, delete"0n" and replace by One Column 3, line 59,delete "groups" and replace by group Column 4, line 41 delete ::will andreplace by which Column 7, line 14, delete pulse and replace by a pulseColumn 7, line 29, delete "or" and replace by of Column 7 line 30,delete "furthr" and replace by further-- Column 7, line 36, delete"extremely" and replace by an extremely In the Claims:

Claim 5, column 9 line 29, delete response to" and replace by responseof Claim 9, column 10, line 21, delete "piston and replace by positionClaim 9, column 10 line 26 delete "depressison" and replace by deression Claim 24, column ll line 49, delete 'conductive" and replace bynonconductive Claim 25, column 12 line 47 after "key" insert Signed andgcalcd this ninth Day of December 1975 {SEAL} Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner uj'Parenrsand Trademarks

1. That method of operating an electronic organ in which at least onefill note sounds in the treble portion of a composition when a key ofeach of the solo and accompaniment keyboards of the organ are jointlydepressed, said fill note comprising a note within an octave range belowthe note which corresponds to the depressed solo key and harmonicallyrelated to the notes corresponding to the depressed solo andaccompaniment keys, said method comprising delaying the sounding of thesaid fill note for a predetermined and audibly discernable time intervalafter the sounding of the notes corresponding to the depressed keys. 2.That method according to claim 1 in which said time interval is greaterthan the time interval between the depressing of keys of the solokeyboard when the keys are actuated in rapid succession whereby the fillnotes will not sound when playing rapid arpeggios and glissando and likemusical figures involving the actuation of keys in rapid succession. 3.That method of operating an organ having solo and accompanimentkeyboards with each key of the solo keyboard when depressed causingsubstantially instantaneous sounding of a respective note whiledepression of a key of a predetermined group of the keys of theaccompaniment keyboard causes substantially instantaneous sounding ofthe notes of a respective chord, said method enhancing the sound of theorgan while simplifying the playing thereof, said method comprising;causing the sounding of at least one fill note within the range of anoctave below the note corresponding to tHe key depressed in the solokeyboard when a key of each of said solo keyboard and one of said groupof keys of said accompaniment manual are in depressed position at thesame time, said fill note being harmonically related to the notecorresponding to the depressed solo key and to the chord correspondingto the depressed accompaniment key, and delaying the sounding of saidfill note for an audibly discernable period of time following the lastdepressed one of said solo and accompaniment keys.
 4. That methodaccording to claim 3 which includes preventing said fill note fromsounding when more than a single one of said group of keys of theaccompaniment manual is in depressed position at the same time.
 5. In anelectronic organ having a tone generator with a plurality of terminalsat respective tone signal frequencies, an electroacoustic transducer,and solo and accompaniment manuals each having keys; a plurality ofnormally nonconductive first keyers connecting respective terminals ofsaid generator to said transducer and each going to conduction inresponse to the depressing of a respective key of said solo manual, gatemeans having outputs connected to at least some of said first keyers andcausing the said first keyers to go to conduction when enabling signalsare supplied to the inputs of the gate means, each gate means having oneinput which receives an enabling signal in response to the depression ofa respective key of said accompaniment manual and a second input whichreceives an enabling signal in response to the depression of arespective key of said solo manual other than the key which normallycauses the respective first keyer to go to conduction whereby each gatemeans is enabled in response to the joint depression of a key of eachmanual, and time delay means operatively connected to said gate meansand operable to delay the response to said first keyers to the jointdepression of a solo key and an accompaniment key for a predeterminedand audibly discernable time period after the last depressed one of thekeys which cause the supply of enabling signals to the inputs of therespective gate means.
 6. An electronic organ according to claim 5 inwhich each said gate means comprises a group of gates each having oneinput connected to receive an enabling signal from a respective key ofat least a predetermined group of keys of the accompaniment manual andanother input connected to receive an enabling signal from a respectivekey of said solo manual.
 7. An electronic organ according to claim 6which includes a control gate for each group of gates, each control gatehaving an output connected to the said one input of each gate of therespective said group of gates and an input connected to receive anenabling signal in response to the depression of the respective saidaccompaniment manual key, and selector switch means having one positionwherein an enabling signal is supplied to the other input of all of saidcontrol gates and a second position in which the enabling signal to theother input of said control gates is interrupted.
 8. An electronic organaccording to claim 5 which includes a plurality of second keyersconnecting respective terminals of said generator to said transducer andeach going to conduction in response to the depression of a respectivekey of said accompaniment manual, a plurality of third keyers eachconnecting a respective group of terminals of said generator to saidtransducer and each going to conduction in response to the depression ofa respective key of a predetermined group of the keys of saidaccompaniment manual, the tone signals controlled by each of said thirdkeyers being related as chords, said one input of said gate meansreceiving an enabling signal in response to the depression of a key ofsaid predetermined group of keys of said accompaniment manual, andselector switch means having one position in which said second keyers goconductive in response to the depressing of the respective keys of saidaCcompaniment manual and a second position in which said third keyermeans go to conduction in response to the depressing of respective keysof said predetermined group of keys.
 9. An electronic organ according toclaim 8 in which each said first keyer and each said second keyer andeach said third keyer means has a control terminal, a first switch meansoperated by each key of the solo manual and each connected to thecontrol terminal of a respective said first keyer, a second switch meansoperated by each key of the accompaniment manual and each connected tothe control terminal of a respective said second keyer, each of saidsecond switch means operated by the keys of said predetermined group ofkeys of the accompaniment manual also being connected to the controlterminal of a respective said third keyer, selector switch means havinga first position in which said second switch means are effective forcontrolling said second keyers and a second piston in which the saidsecond switch means operated by said group of keys are effective forcontrolling said third keyers, and means connected to said gate meansand selectively operable for making said gate means responsive to thedepressison of keys of said accompaniment manual only when said secondswitch means is in said second position thereof.
 10. An electronic organaccording to claim 9 in which said gate means comprises a group of gatesfor each key of said predetermined group of keys, a control gate foreach said group of gates having an output connected to the said oneinputs of the gate of the respective group of gates and one inputconnected to the respective said second switch means, and selectorswitch means connected to the other input of all of said control gatesand selectively operable for supplying an enabling signal to said otherinputs of said control gates simultaneously.
 11. An electronic organaccording to claim 10 in which each said control gate has one inputconnected to the respective second switch means to receive an enablingsignal therefrom when the respective key is depressed, said selectorswitch means comprising a single switch connected to second inputs ofall of said control gates and having one position wherein disablingsignals are supplied to all of said second inputs of said control gatesand a second position in which enabling signals are supplied to all ofsaid second inputs of said control gates.
 12. An electronic organaccording to claim 5 in which the first keyers to which the outputs ofrespective ones of said gate means are connected are in the octave nextbelow the note corresponding to the said solo manual key which isjointly effective for enabling the respective gate means.
 13. Anelectronic organ according to claim 5 which includes means operable inresponse to the depressing of more than one of said accompaniment manualkeys for making said gate means ineffective for controlling said firstkeyers.
 14. An electronic organ according to claim 5 which includesmeans for adjusting the duration of the delay of said time delay means.15. An electronic organ according to claim 5 in which said time delaymeans comprises a circuit which normally supplies an enabling signal tothe gate means input to which it is connected and becomes effective foran adjustable period of time following the actuation of a key of eitherof said solo and accompaniment manuals for supplying a disabling signalto the respective gate means input.
 16. An electronic organ accoding toclaim 7 in which said selector means includes a further gate connectedin controlling relation to all of said control gates, said time delaymeans being connected to an input of said further gate.
 17. Anelectronic organ according to claim 7 in which said selector meansincludes a further gate having an output connected to an input of eachof said control gates, a selector switch connected to one input of saidfurther gate for selectively supplying an enabling signal thereto, saidtime delay meaNs being connected to the other input of said furthergate.
 18. An electronic organ according to claim 17 in which said otherinput of said further gate is normally supplied with an enabling signal,said time delay means when actuated by the depressing of said keysmaking said enabling signal ineffective for a predetermined period oftime thereby disabling said further gate and said control gates for thesaid period of time.
 19. An electronic organ according to claim 5 inwhich said predetermined period of time is longer than the intervalbetween successive notes when the keys are depressed in rapidsuccession.
 20. An electronic organ according to claim 5 in which eachsaid gate means is a two input gate.
 21. An electronic organ accordingto claim 7 in which each control gate is a two input gate.
 22. Anelectronic organ according to claim 9 in which each said first switch isconnected to an input of at least one of the said gates corresponding toeach of said chord playing keys, the output of each such gate beingconnected to at least two of said first keyers in the octave whichincludes the first keyer connected to the said first switch whereby forevery chord played at least two fill-in notes are played after said timedelay period for each key of the solo keyboard which is depressed whilea chord playing key is depressed.
 23. An electronic organ according toclaim 22 in which the note pertaining to said first switch is at the topof the octave and said fill-in notes are at lower pitches than the notepertaining to said first switch.
 24. In an electronic organ having atone generator with a plurality of output terminals for supplying anelectroacoustic transducer, first normally conductive keyer meansconnecting said terminals to said transducer, said organ comprisingplaying keys in the form of solo, accompaniment and pedal keyboards,each key of said keyboards when depressed normally causing a respectivefirst keyer means connected to a respective terminal of said tonegenerator to go conductive, second normally nonconductive keyer meansconnecting groups of said terminals to said electroacoustic transducer,selector switch means having a position in which the keys of saidaccompaniment keyboard are disabled for causing the pertaining firstkeyer means to go to conduction while enabling predetermined onesthereof forming chord playing keys for causing respective said secondkeyer means to go to conduction, each said chord playing key wheneffective for causing a said second keyer means to go to conduction andeach key of said solo keyboard jointly causing a first keyer means forat least one tone in the octave next below the respective key of saidsolo keyboard and musically related to the chord corresponding to therespective chord playing key to go to conduction when the said keys aredepressed, and time delay means connected to said jointly controlledfirst keyer means and operable for delaying the response of said jointlycontrolled first keyer means to a condition of joint actuation of a keyof said solo keyboard and a said chord playing key of said accompanimentkeyboard, said time delay means having a control terminal connected toreceive a signal from the last actuated one of said jointly actuatedkeys for initiating said time delay, said time delay being audiblydiscernable.
 25. In an electronic organ having a tone generator with aplurality of terminals at respective tone signal frequencies, anelectroacoustic transducer, first keyers connected between individualterminals of said tone generator and said electroacoustic transducer andactuatable for keying solo notes, second keyers connected betweenindividual terminals of said tone generator and said electroascoustictransducer and individually actuatable for keying accompaniment notes,and third keyers connected between groups of terminals of said tonegenerator means and said electroacoustic means and actuatable for keyingaccompaniment chords, solo playing keys each opeRable to actuate arespective first keyer, accompaniment playing keys each operable toactuate a respective second keyer, predetermined ones of saidaccompaniment playing keys forming chord playing keys and each operableto actuate a respective third keyer, a selector switch having a firstposition wherein said accompaniment manual keys are effective foractuating said second keyers and a second position wherein said chordplaying keys are effective for actuating said third keyers, meansoperable in response to the joint actuation of a chord playing key and asolo playing key when said selector switch is in said second positionfor actuating at least two of said first keyers other than the onepertaining to the actuated solo playing key said two of said firstkeyers pertaining to tones musically related to the tone pertaining tothe actuated solo playing key and to the chord pertaining to theactuated chord playing key, and time delay means connected to said firstkeyers and operable in response to the actuation of either of a solo keyor a chord playing accompaniment key for delaying the response of saidtwo of said first keyers to a condition of joint actuation of a saidsolo key and a said chord playing accompaniment key.
 26. An electronicorgan according to claim 25 in which the tones pertaining to said two ofsaid first keyers are within an octave range of the tone pertaining tothe actuated solo playing key.